BIO: WILLIAM E. SHAPLEY, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 348-349
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    WILLIAM E. SHAPLEY, M. D., a representative of one of the old and honored
  families of the Cumberland Valley, and now a prominent business citizen of
  Shippensburg, was born there, son of Joel and Lacy Hays (Connelly) Shapley.
    
    Joel Shapley, at the time of his death, Jan. 27, 1903, was the oldest
  citizen of Shippensburg. He was born July 16, 1812, at Halifax, Dauphin
  county, Pa., son of Rufus E. and Lydia Shapley, late of Carlisle. When quite
  young he removed with his parents, to Carlisle, and there learned the
  cabinetmaking trade. While still a young man he came to Shippensburg, whither
  several of his brothers had preceded him, and for a time carried on
  cabinetmaking on the grounds now occupied by the Presbyterian Church, which
  grounds he subsequently owned. In 1835 he was married (first) to Margaret
  Porter, and one daughter of this marriage is still living, Mrs. William
  Harris, of Creston, Iowa. Mrs. Shapley died in 1839, and he married (second)
  Lacy Hays Connelly, of near Plainfield, who died some years ago, about 1890.
  The children of this marriage were: Joseph, deceased; Emma, deceased, wife of
  Rev. J. W. Feight; William E.; and Charles W., of Carlisle. In young manhood
  he united with the Methodist Church, and during all his long and busy life he
  was subject to its teachings and liberal in his support. He generously aided
  in the erection of three Methodist churches at Shippensburg, and it has been
  said of him that he was not only a liberal, but a cheerful giver. Although
  not a man of robust appearance, his orderly life kept his organs and
  faculties in perfect health, and until the natural infirmities of age fell
  upon him, he scarcely knew what it was to be ill. Living so long in one
  community he noted the wonderful changes as the years passed by. In company
  with the late Captain Mifflin, Dr. W. E. D. Hayes and William Griffin, he
  rode on the first train that passed over the Cumberland Valley Railroad
  tracks to Chambersburg.
    
    William E. Shapley was educated in the public schools and Williamsport
  Seminary, at a later date taking a course of lectures at
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	349
    
  the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. He
  then returned to Shippensburg, and took charge of his father's estate, which
  consisted of a large amount of property through the city. He has managed the
  building and rebuilding of many dwellings and stores, much of the property
  being situated in the best portions of the city.
    
    In 1896 Mr. Shapley was married to Julia D. Mifflin, of Shippensburg,
  daughter of Joseph and Julia (Stewart) Mifflin, a distant relative of Dr.
  Alexander Stewart. Mrs. Shapley, through her grandfather, is a Daughter of
  the Revolution. Mr. Shapley is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal
  Church, whilst his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church.